The Message of the Rev. Mary Baker Eddy to the Mother Church read at the several communion services held Sunday, June 23, 1901, and since revised by her, is now out and in the hands of the Publisher for sale. The importance of this Message at this time is so obvious that merely to call attention to the fact that it is now ready for perusal and distribution, is, no doubt, sufficient for all Christian Scientists.
This booklet is a most noteworthy and valuable contribution to Christian Science literature. It is comprehensive, in an unusual degree.
In its definitional aspects, it is lucid, concise, and full. No one can intelligently read it without getting a clear conception of the fundamental tenets of the Christian Science doctrine.
In its strong and pungent affirmations it meets and refutes many current misapprehensions and falsehoods.
No good person can read such utterances without being better for it, nor lay down the book after reading it without a feeling of love, veneration, and gratitude for its author.
We take the liberty of briefly extracting from this booklet, for the purpose of showing Mrs. Eddy's position on the subject of mental malpractice. It will readily be seen how exalted are her views, how scrupulously conscientious her practice,—her prayer, for such it is in the highest sense. What she practises herself she imparts carefully and conscientiously to her students. She says:—
"From ordinary mental practice to Christian Science is a long ascent, but to go from the use of inanimate drugs to any susceptible misuse of the human mind, such as mesmerism, hypnotism, and the like, is to subject mankind unwarned and undefended to the unbridled individual human will. The currents of God flow through no such channels.
"The whole world needs to know that the milder forms of animal magnetism and hypnotism are yielding to its aggressive features. We have no moral right and no authority in Christian Science for influencing the thought of others, except it be to serve God and benefit mankind. Man is properly self-governed, and he should be guided by no other mind than Truth, the divine Mind. Christian Science gives neither moral right nor might to harm either man or beast. The Christian Scientist is alone with his own being and with the reality of things. The mental malpractitioner is not, cannot be, a Christian Scientist; he is disloyal to God and man; he has every opportunity to mislead the human mind, and he uses it. People may listen complacently to the suggestion of the inaudible falsehood, not knowing what is hurting them or that they are hurt. This mental bane could not bewilder, darken, or misguide consciousness, physically, morally, or spiritually,—if the individual knew what was at work and his power over it."
